I studied microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh, where I got my first exposure to scientific research in an epigenetics lab. It wasn't until the summer leading into my fourth year that I fell in love with marine research while on a fellowship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Currently, at NYU Abu Dhabi, I am narrowing my research interests and expanding my technical toolkit before I apply to PhD programs.
ABOUT ME
EDUCATION
University of Pittsburgh (2016-2020)
B.S. Microbiology, Summa Cum Laude
Chemistry Minor, Studio Arts Minor
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Technician (2021 - present)
New York University Abu Dhabi, Division of Science
Studying the chemical interactions between marine bacteria and phytoplankton
Advisor: Dr. Shady Amin
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Undergraduate Researcher​ (2018 - 2020)
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences
Characterizing the roles of eRNAs and PROMPTS in transcriptional regulation of associated mRNAs
Advisor: Dr. Sarah Hainer
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Student in Virology Laboratory Course (Spring 2020)
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences
Generating Mycobacterium fluorophages using CRISPy-BRED
Instructor: Dr. Kimberly Payne
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Summer Student Fellow (Summer 2019)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry
Detection of phosphine gas in anoxic, brackish water
Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Van Mooy
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Student in Microbiology Laboratory Course (Fall 2018)
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences
Project 1: Culture-dependent isolation and characterization of soil microbes and culture-independent metagenomic analysis of soil sample
Project 2: Identification of Serratia sp. that can use caffeine as sole carbon source
Instructor: Dr. Kristen Butela
PRESENTATIONS
2020 - Phosphate may be fully reduced to phosphine gas in anoxic waters
Poster presented at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020, San Diego, CA
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2019 - Phosphate may be fully reduced to phosphine gas in anoxic waters
Poster presented at Science 2019, Pittsburgh, PA
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2019 - Phosphine may be fully reduced to phosphine gas in anoxic waters
Poster presented at WHOI Summer Student Research Symposium, Woods Hole, MA
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2019 - The Hunt for Phosphine
Talk presented at WHOI Summer Student Mid-Summer Presentations, Woods Hole, MA
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2018 - Determining the roles of enhancer and promoter non-coding RNAs in embryonic stem cells
Poster presented at Science 2018, Pittsburgh, PA
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2018 - Determining the roles of enhancer and promoter non-coding RNAs in embryonic stem cells
Poster presented at Summer 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA
AWARDS & HONORS
2020
CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
ACC Academic Honor Roll
Spring Semester Dean's List
Pitt Honors Travel Award
OSM Student Travel Grant
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2019
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Summer Student Fellowship (NSF REU)
ACC Academic Honor Roll
Chancellor's Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship
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2018
Fall Semester Dean's List
HHMI Mentor/Mentee Fellowship
ACC Academic Honor Roll
Spring Semester Dean's List
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2017
Fall Semester Dean's List
Summit Medical Group Next Generation Scholarship
ACC Academic Honor Roll
Spring Semester Dean's List
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2016
4.0 Student-Athlete Award
Fall Semester Dean's List
TEACHING & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Student-Athlete Representative (2019-2020 Academic Year)
Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee, Pitt Athletics, University of Pittsburgh
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Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Fall 2019)
Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Gardner
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Biological Sciences Peer Advisor (Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017)
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Dr. Jessica Wandelt
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Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Spring 2019, Fall 2017, Spring 2017)
Foundations of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Dr. Erica McGreevy
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Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Fall 2018)
Organic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh,
Advisors: Shelby Schettler, Dr. Jackie Powell, Dr. Ericka Huston
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Public Relations & Social Media Chair (2017-2018 Academic Year)
Campus Women's Organization, University of Pittsburgh
SEATIME
WHOI Summer Student Fellowship Sampling Cruise, R/V Tioga, 22 July 2019